International flights to Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, and North America will face a higher surcharge, increasing from $60 to $200 for bookings from March 18.
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SIDDHANT THAKUR/THE HINDU
A surcharge of ₹399 for domestic and South Asia routes is being introduced for on bookings from March 12. On West Asia routes, a $10 surcharge will apply.
On routes to Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, and North America, an additional surcharge will be applied to bookings made from March 18. This will increase the applicable surcharge from $60 to $200.
Since early March 2026, aviation turbine fuel (ATF), which accounts for nearly 40 per cent of an airline’s operating costs, has experienced significant price increases due to supply disruptions. In India, this pressure is amplified by high excise duty and VAT on ATF in major metro cities such as Delhi and Mumbai, magnifying the cost impact and placing substantial strain on airline operating economics. The new fuel surcharges are being implemented in three phases, covering travel on all flights, including those operated by Air India Express.
Published on March 10, 2026